Imran Khan’s interim bail extended in ECP protest case

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Tuesday extended the interim bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan till April 8 in a case pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), ARY News reported.

The court, presided by ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas, was hearing an application for interim bail and the request for exemption was filed by Imran’s counsel.

While extending Imran Khan’s interim bail, the court also accepted the request for exemption from attendance in the case pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

During the hearing, the PTI chief’s counsel appeared before the ATC and stated that Khan’s previous appearance in the judicial complex was available for all to see, adding that Imran would have been assassinated at the complex.

He further said that Imran Khan himself wanted to go to the judicial complex, however, the current situation did not permit it.

The judge inquired that if the request for exemption from attendance was approved today, was there a guarantee that the ex-premier would appear at the next hearing? Imran’s counsel maintained that the ATC had not summoned Imran thus far.

ECP protest case

It is pertinent to mention here that several members of the local leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were booked in a case over alleged vandalism during the protests in Islamabad after ECP disqualified the former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief in Toshakhana reference.

Cases were also registered against PTI leaders including Senator Faisal Javed, Aamir Kayani, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Raja Rashid Hafeez, Umer Tanveer Butt, Rashid Naeem Abbasi and Raja Majid.

The first information report registered against the party members claimed the protestors had pelted stones at the police and FC officials, leading to many injuries.

It further stated that workers of the former ruling party tried ramming police personnel with vehicles, set public property ablaze in Faizabad, and also damaged government property.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63(1)(p).